After missing three games because of a reported academic issue, Syracuse center Fab Melo will return to action Saturday against St. John’s.
Mike Waters of the Syracuse Post-Standard reports that two sources say that the announcement of Melo’s reinstatement will come Thursday.
Jim Boeheim’s club, ranked second in the nation behind Kentucky, has gone 2-1 without the 7-foot sophomore. Syracuse lost at Notre Dame — and its No. 1 spot in the polls — before bouncing back to win at Cincinnati on Jan. 23. The Orangemen needed a blown goal-tending call to beat visiting West Virginia last Saturday.
Melo was averaging 7.2 points and 5.7 rebounds in 22 minutes of play before being sidelined. Still, the native of Brazil can be a considerable presence in the lane, both on offense and in Boeheim’s famous 2-3 zone defense.
